GOLF CLUB HEAD

Abstract

A golf club head includes a hollow head body having a front striking member, an upper shell portion extending rearwardly from the front striking member, and a lower shell portion extending rearwardly from the front striking member and connected to the upper shell portion. One of the upper and lower shell portions is made of plastic, and the other one of the upper and lower shell portions is made of metal. The plastic shell portion has an inner surface, and reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface. The front striking member has a rear inner surface free of the reinforcing ribs projecting therefrom. By virtue of the reinforcing ribs on the plastic shell portion, the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body from the front striking member can be increased.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a golf club head, more particularly to a golf club head with high strength and lightweight properties.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional golf club head 2 includes a front striking portion 22, an upper shell portion 23 formed as one piece with the front striking portion 22 and cooperating with the front striking portion 22 to define a lower opening 20, and a lower shell portion 21 fitted in the lower opening 20. Both of the upper shell portion 23 and the front striking portion 22 are formed with reinforcing ribs 24 projecting inwardly therefrom so as to reinforce the mechanical strength of the golf club head 2 while reducing the thickness of the upper shell portion 23 and the front striking portion 22 to reduce the overall weight of the golf club head 2.

Since the upper shell portion 23 and the front striking portion 22 are made of metal, the weight thereof cannot be reduced effectively. Moreover, since the front striking portion 22 is provided with the reinforcing ribs 24, the center of gravity of the golf club head 2 is located at a distance relatively proximate to the front striking portion 22, which in turn reduces the striking stability and the striking distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head which possesses high strength and lightweight properties.

Accordingly, the golf club head of this invention includes a hollow head body having a front striking member, an upper shell portion extending rearwardly from the front striking member, and a lower shell portion extending rearwardly from the front striking member and connected to the upper shell portion. The upper and lower shell portions and the front striking member cooperatively confine an enclosed inner space. One of the upper and lower shell portions is made of plastic, and the other one of the upper and lower shell portions is made of metal. The plastic shell portion has an inner surface, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs projecting from the inner surface. The front striking member has a rear inner surface which is free of the reinforcing ribs projecting therefrom. By virtue of the reinforcing ribs on the plastic shell portion, the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body from the front striking member can be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional golf club head;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional golf club head;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second preferred of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the third preferred of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the fourth preferred of a golf club head according to this invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the fifth preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is shown to include a hollow head body 1 having a front striking member 12, an upper shell portion 13 extending rearwardly from the front striking member 12, and a lower shell portion 11 extending rearwardly from the front striking member 12 and connected to the upper shell portion 13. The upper and lower shell portions 13,11 and the front striking member 12 cooperatively confine an enclosed inner space. In this embodiment, the upper shell portion 13 is made of plastic. Preferably, the upper shell portion 13 is made of carbon fibers. Moreover, in this embodiment, the lower shell portion 11 is made of metal. The upper shell portion 13 has an inner surface 131, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 14 projecting from the inner surface 131. The front striking member 12 has a rear inner surface 121 which is free of the reinforcing ribs 14 projecting therefrom. By virtue of the reinforcing ribs 14 on the upper shell portion 13, the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1 from the front striking member 12 can be increased. In other wards, the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1 can be shifted rearwardly from the front striking member 12 compared to that of the conventional golf club head 2 so that the striking stability and the striking distance can be improved. The reinforcing ribs 14 are provided at a distance of at least 2 cm from the front striking member 12, are parallel to each other, and are straight. Therefore, the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1 from the front striking member 12 can be increased. In this preferred embodiment, the upper shell portion 13 and the reinforcing ribs 14 are made of plastic, and the reinforcing ribs 14 are formed as one piece with the upper shell portion 13.

When making the golf club head of this embodiment, the upper shell portion 13 is formed as one piece with the reinforcing ribs 14 by any suitable manner, such as molding, from carbon fibers. The upper shell portion 13 is then assembled with the lower shell portion 11 and the front striking member 12 by any suitable manner well known in the art to form the golf club head.

Alternatively, the reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a material different from that of the upper shell portion 13, and are assembled to the upper shell portion 13 by any suitable manner, such as gluing or anchoring. For example, the reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a metal material, and the upper shell portion 13 is made of carbon fibers.

In view of the aforesaid, the golf club head of this embodiment has the following advantages:

1. Since the upper shell portion 13 of the golf club head is made of carbon fibers, the total weight of the golf club head can be reduced. On the other hand, since the upper shell portion 13 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 14 projecting from the inner surface 131 thereof, the mechanical strength can be increased as well while reducing the total weight of the golf club head.

2. Since the reinforcing ribs 14 are provided at a distance distal from the front striking member 12, i.e., at a distance of at least 2 cm from the front striking member 12, the distance of the center of gravity of the hollow head body 1 from the front striking member 12 can be increased. Therefore, the striking stability and the striking distance can be improved accordingly.

3. The sound wave produced inside the hollow head body 1 while striking a golf ball can be destroyed by the reinforcing ribs 14. Therefore, the striking sound is relatively crisp.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing ribs 14 are straight and extend along intersecting lines.

Referring to FIG. 6, the third preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing ribs 14 are cured.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fourth preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is similar to the second preferred embodiment except that the reinforcing ribs 14 are curved.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the fifth preferred embodiment of a golf club head according to this invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment except that the lower shell portion 11 and the reinforcing ribs 14 are made of plastic, and that the reinforcing ribs 14 project from the lower shell portion 11. In the fifth preferred embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 14 are formed as one piece with the lower shell portion 11. Alternatively, the reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a material different from that of the lower shell portion 11, and are assembled to the lower shell portion 11 by any suitable manner, such as gluing or anchoring. For example, the reinforcing ribs 14 can be made of a metal material, and the lower shell portion 11 is made of carbon fibers.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a hollow head body having a front striking member, an upper shell portion extending rearwardly from said front striking member, and a lower shell portion extending rearwardly from said front striking member and connected to said upper shell portion, said upper and lower shell portions and said front striking member cooperatively confining an enclosed inner space;

wherein one of said upper and lower shell portions is made of plastic, the other one of said upper and lower shell portions is made of metal, said one of said upper and lower shell portions has an inner surface, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs projecting from said inner surface, and said front striking member has a rear inner surface which is free of the reinforcing ribs projecting therefrom, whereby presence of said reinforcing ribs of said one of said upper and lower shell portions can increase the distance of the center of gravity of said hollow head body from said front striking member.

2. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing ribs are provided at a distance of at least 2 cm from said front striking member.

3. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper shell portion and said reinforcing ribs are made of plastic, and said reinforcing ribs project from said upper shell portion.

4. The golf club head as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reinforcing ribs are formed as one piece with said upper shell portion.

5. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper shell portion is made of plastic, and said reinforcing ribs are made of metal and project from said upper shell portion.

6. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing ribs are parallel to each other.

7. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reinforcing ribs are straight.

8. The golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reinforcing ribs are curved.

9. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing ribs extend along intersecting lines.

10. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower shell portion and said reinforcing ribs are made of plastic, and said reinforcing ribs project from said lower shell portion.

11. The golf club head as claimed in claim 10, wherein said reinforcing ribs are formed as one piece with said lower shell portion.

12. The golf club head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower shell portion is made of plastic, and said reinforcing ribs are made of metal and project from said lower shell portion.